18th Operations Group
The 18th Operations Group manages the flight activities of Kadena Air Base bringing America's airpower to the farthest reaches of the globe with operations that include search and rescue, reconnaissance, special operations and airborne air control.

The 18th OG is the largest combat ops group in the Air Force with eight squadrons, one flight, 842 active-duty members and approximately 80 aircraft, including the F-15 Eagle, E-3 Sentry, KC-135 Stratotanker and the HH-60 Pave Hawk.

The group's nine squadrons and flight include the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES), 18th Operations Support Squadron (OSS), the 44th and 67th fighter squadrons (FS), the 31st and 33rd rescue squadrons (RQS), 909th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS), 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS) and the 623rd Air Control Squadron (ACS).

The 18th AES maintains a forward presence and supports medical contingencies in the Pacific to include the only neonatal air facility in the region. The squadron's area of operations is the largest in the military, reaching from the Horn of Africa to Alaska. The 18th AES deploys, establishes and operates elements of a theater aeromedical evacuation system, including a mobile staging facility, evacuation command and control, and crews for worldwide taskings.

Flying the all-weather, highly maneuverable F-15 Eagle, the 44th FS and 67th FS are the only F-15 units in the Asian-Western Pacific area of operations. The fighter squadrons are part of the tip of the spear with the F-15's unique role in support of Pacific Command operational plans and headquarters-directed contingency operations.

The 31st RQS trains, equips and employs combat-ready pararescue specialists. The pararescuemen are experts in medical care and small-unit tactics providing survivor contact, treatment and extraction during combat rescue operations in hostile or denied territory. The 31st RQS uses various fixed- and rotary-wing insertion and extraction assets providing combat and humanitarian search, rescue and medical assistance in all environments.

The 33rd RQS is a combat-ready HH-60G Pave Hawk squadron whose mission is search, rescue and recovery, night or day, over land or water. The 33rd RQS maintains readiness for mobilization, deployment and employment of helicopters and rescue of U.S. and allied military members, and civilians when necessary. The squadron has employed its skills to rescue host nation members as well.

The 909th ARS provides combat-ready KC-135 tanker aircrews to support peacetime operations and all levels of conflict in the Pacific theater. The 909th ARS deploys worldwide executing contingency and strategic war plan operations. They are the Pacific Air Forces' "lead force" for air refueling U.S. and allied aircraft during all contingencies. The squadron accomplishes vital, daily aeromedical evacuations for military and civilian members, sometimes transporting patients to as far away as the United States. The squadron also conducts Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and headquarters- and command-directed missions.

Equipped with the airborne warning and control system (AWACS), the 961st AACS is a combat-ready E-3 squadron providing airborne command and control, long-range surveillance, detection and identification information for commanders in support of U.S. goals. The 961st AACS responds to quick-alert mobilization, worldwide deployments and combat employment in support of Pacific Command operational plans and headquarters-directed contingency operations.

The 623rd ACS is responsible for providing rapid response, combat-ready theater control operations teams integrating battle staff, weapons control, and host-nation command liaison elements in support of U.S. and bilateral interests throughout the entire Pacific theater. The 623rd ACS maintains system expertise on an indigenous primary command and control system at Naha Air Base south of Kadena and may deploy to other sites in Japan to provide ground-based radar.